Automatic random case coder

ABSTRACT

A case coder is automatically adjustable to accommodate different sizes of cases. It includes an infeed for advancing cases into the coder and a switch device for sensing the size of each of the incoming cases. A brake stops each of the incoming cases and releases cases to be pushed onto an intermittently driven conveyor advancing the cases through the coder, and the brake holds any different size case that appears while the coder is cleared of all the preceding cases. Then an axially movable shaft is adjusted for laterally positioning the side rails to fit the different size case, and when the adjustment is completed, the brake is released to allow the different size case to be pushed onto the conveyor to advance through the coder.

[451 Aug. 12, 1975 Peres AUTOMATIC RANDOM CASE CODER [75] Inventor: Anthony R. Peres, Bristol, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Peres Electronic Machines, Inc.,

Bristol, NY.

[22] Filed: June 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 480,115

[52] US. Cl 101/37; 10l/DIG. 3 [51] Int. Cl B4lf 17/26 [58] Field of Search 101/37, 36, 35, DIG. 3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,590 3/1938 Kimball 101/37 X 2,665,633 l/1954 Schubert.... 101/37 X 2,761,545 9/1956 Hoagland lOl/37 X 3,122,994 3/1964 Crabtree et al. 101/37 UX Primary Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Attorney, Agent, or FirmStonebraker, Shepard & Stephens [5 7 ABSTRACT A case coder is automatically adjustable to accommodate different sizes of cases. It includes an infeed for advancing cases into the coder and a switch device for sensing the size of each of the incoming cases. A brake stops each of the incoming cases and releases cases to be pushed onto an intermittently driven conveyor advancing the cases through the coder, and the brake holds any different size case that appears while the coder is cleared of all the preceding cases. Then an axially movable shaft is adjusted for laterally positioning the side rails to fit the different size case, and when the adjustment is completed, the brake is released to allow the different size case to be pushed onto the conveyor to advance through the coder.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1.2 ms

FIG. I.

PATENTEU AUS 1 2 I975 SHEET FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

PATENTED AUG 12% 3. 898 926 SHEET 3 AUTOMATIC RANDOM f CONTROL FIG. 4.

PATENTED AUG 1.2 1975 SHW WWW W FIG. 7

FIG. 8.

AUTOMATIC RANDOM CASE CODER THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Case coders are generally known for printing coding or labeling information on cases, and on production lines that accommodate different sizes of cases, coders have been manually adjusted to each size case when a changeover is made. The invention involves recognition of a simple and reliable way for automatically adjusting a coder to different size cases and for doing so in a coder designed to be speedy and efficient. The invention aims at economy and reliability of coder operation at high speed to accommodate different size cases without any manual intervention. i

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive automatic random case coder has an infeed for advancing cases into an input region of the coder, and the infeed has an output end. Switch means are arranged for sensing the size of each of the cases advanced by the infeed means, and a brake in the region of the output end of the infeed means successively holds each of the cases delivered by the infeed means. An intermittently driven conveyor advances the cases through the coder, and sensing means senses the initial movement of each of the cases on the conveyor. The brake is responsive to the movement sensing means for releasing a case to be pushed onto the conveyor by another one of the cases following the previously held case and advanced by the infeed. A pair of laterally adjustable side rails extend along opposite sides of the conveyor, and printing devices are mounted on the side rails for printing on the cases advanced by the conveyor. When a different size case is sensed by the size sensing means, the brake is applied to hold the different size case and the coder is operated to clear the coder of all the cases preceding the different size cases. When a sensor determines that the coder is cleared of all the preceding cases, an actuator moves an axially adjustable shaft coupled to the side rails for laterally adjusting the side rails, and when the side rail adjustment is completed, the brake is released to allow the different size case to be pushed onto the conveyor to advance through the coder.

DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a partially schematic, plan view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive coder;

FIG. 2 is a right end elevation of the coder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the coder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the operation of portions of the coder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially schematic, plan view of the movement of cases around a corner in the coder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the side rail adjustment mechanism for the coder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partially schematic, cross-sectional view of a switching device for sensing the size of cases in the coder of FIG. 1; and FIG. 8 is a partially schematic, cross-sectional view of a switching device for sensing the positioning of the side rails in the coder of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

The preferred embodiment of coder 10 illustrated in the drawings is for printing coding or labeling information on cases such as corrugated cardboard boxes or cartons or other containers. It is preferably installed in a production line downstream from equipment for filling and sealing the cases, and it includes generally known printing rollers for printing coding or labeling information on each case. It operates at a relatively high speed to be able to keep up with other equipment on the production line, and it is made for reliable and trouble-free operation.

Incoming cases are transported by a belt 11 powered by a motor 12 driving chain 13 to drive roller 14. The output end 15 of belt 11 deposits cases on idler rollers 16, and cases are pushed across dead plate 17 and onto belt conveyor 18 having flight bars 19 for carrying cases between print rollers 20 for printing coding information on the ends of the cases. Conveyor 18 is intermittently driven by motor 21 preferably through an electromagnetic clutch and brake system, (not shown) for driving chain 22 turning drive roller 23.

As cases advance along infeed belt 11 they engage an arm 24 mounted on a pivot 25 and biased toward a fixed rail 26 so that arm 24 urges the cases against rail 26. Arm 24 is biased by a push rod 27 connected to arm 24 by a slotted bracket 28 andurged outward by tension on spring 29 as shown in FIG. 7. Spring 29 is stretched between a collar 30 on rod 27 and a fixed stop 31 in a housing 32 which also contains a fixed support bar 33 mounting a row of microswitches 34. Rod 27 has a bevelled surface leading from a thicker outer portion of rod 27 to a thinner inner portion 36, and microswitches 34 are opened or closed, depending on which side of bevelled surface 35 they are on when arm 24 presses each case fully against fixed rail 26. Switches 34 thus sense the size of each incoming case and signal a control unit 50 of FIG. 4 of each case size. The arrival of a different size case will close a different number of switches 34 and tell control unit 50 that coder 10 must be adjusted.

As each case is pushed off the output end 15 of infeed belt 11, a brake 37 operated by pneumatic cylin der 38 is actuated to press the case against fixed rail 26 as best shown in FIG. 5. The different size case 39 of FIG. 5 is larger than the preceding case 40, and its different size has been sensed by arm 24 to initiate an adjustment sequence for coder 10. The adjustment sequence begins with normal application of brake 37 to press case 39 against fixed rail 26 in the position shown in FIG. 5 as preceding case 40 is pushed onto conveyor 18. Case 38 abuts against case 40 and acts as a guide rail guiding case 40 in between side rails 41 and 42 of coder 10. When case 40 reaches guide rail 42, it depresses a pivotal arm 43 that operates a switch 44 (FIGS. 1 and 4) which normally engages an electromagnetic clutch in motor 21 to drive conveyor 18 so that a flight bar 19 engages case 40 and advances it through coder 10 as shown in FIG. 5. When the trailing edge of case 40 passes beyond arm 43 of FIGS. 1 and 4, switch 44 is released to disengage the electromagnetic clutch in motor 21 and bring conveyor 18 to a stop for receiving the next case ahead of the next flight bar 19. Brake 37 is normally released at this point so that the next case is pushed onto conveyor 18, but for different size case 39, brake 37 is not released, and control unit 50 signals motor 21 to continue operating to move preceding case 40 and all the cases ahead of case 40 through coder 10 to clear coder 10 of all preceding cases. Successful completion of this is detected by a photoelectric device 45 best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, which directs a light beam to a reflector 46 and receives the light from reflector-46 to determine-when coder is cleared.

When coder 10 is cleared, a signal of this fact from detector 45 isfed to control unit 50 which then operates a preferably hydrocheck type of pneumatic cylinder 47 for axially positioning an adjusting rod 48 under lying conveyor 18. Rod 48 moves axially in a bearing 49 and carries two pairs of connecting rods 51 coupled to rod 48 at brackets 52 allowing pivotal motion of connecting rods 51. The other ends of connecting rods 51 are pivotally coupled to bars 53 fixed to side rails 41 and 42 which are supported on slidable bars 54 for moving in fixed bearings 55. This is schematically shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, and the arrows in FIG. 6 indicate how axial movement of rod 48 moves connecting rod 51 for lateral adjustment of side rails 41 and 42.

A sensing mechanism 56 similar to the case size sensing mechanism coupled to arm 24 is arranged alongside guide rail 42 with a sensing bar 57 biased into engagement with side rail 42 by tension of a spring 58 in housing 56. Microswitches 59 are arranged in housing 56 on a support 60, and bar 57 has a bevelled surface 61 leading from normal full thickness to a reduced thickness extension 62. Then as side rail 42 moves, different numbers of switches 59 are opened or closed, depending on their position relative to bevelled surface 61. Switches 69 can then sense proper adjustment of side rail 42 relative to the size of the different size case sensed by arm 24 and held in place by brake 37 during changeover adjustment. When switches 59 signal to control unit 50 that proper adjustment of side rails 41 and 42 has occurred, then control unit 50 releases brake 37 so that a case following different size case 39 pushes different size case 39 onto conveyor 18 and against side rail 42 to resume normal operation of coder 10. Such normal operation continues until another different size case appears on infeed 11.

Side rail 42 is longer than side rail 41 and extends into the corner region of coder 10 and is engaged by cases as they are pushed onto conveyor 18. To support the extended end 63 of side rail 42, a solenoid controlled friction brake 64 supports a rod 65 secured to side rail 42. Brake 64 is normally engaged to hold the free end 63 of side rail 42 firmly in place, but when side rail 42 is adjusted, brake 64 is electrically released to free rod 65 for movement as side rail 42 is adjusted. When the adjustment of side rail 42 is completed, brake 64 is re-engaged for holding side rail 42 firmly in place.

Switch 44 and pivotal arm 43 are also preferably mounted on side rail 42 as best shown in FIG. 4. Also, inkwells 66 and ink rollers 67 are mounted on side rails 41 and 42 for inking print rollers that are resiliently pressed against each passing case for printing the desired labeling or coding on each case.

There are many different ways that switching devices for sensing case size or side rail positioning can be made and operated, and different sensors can detect the clearing of coder 10. Coder 10 can also be a straight-line device if the sides of the cases are to be coded, but normally, coding of the ends of the cases is practically important considering the ways that cases are stacked and handled. Different adjustment mechanisms can also adjust the coder side rails. However, the combination of components shown in coder 10 is preferred for high speed, reliability, and trouble-free operation. 7

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art appreciate the many different sensing, switching, and adjusting mechanisms that can be used in applying the invention to various specific coders.

I claim:

1. An automatic random case coder comprising:

a. infeed means for advancing said cases into an input region of said coder, said infeed means having an output end; I

b. switch means for sensing the size of each of said cases advanced by said infeed means;

0. a brake in the region of said output end of said infeed means for successively holding each of said cases delivered by said infeed means;

d. an intermittently driven conveyor for advancing said cases through said coder;

e. sensing means for sensing the initial movement of each of said cases on said conveyor;

f. said brake being responsive to said movement sensing means for releasing a held one of said cases to be pushed onto said conveyor by another one of said cases following said held case and advanced by said infeed means g. a pair of laterally adjustable side rails along opposite sides of said conveyor;

h. printing devices on said side rails for printing on said cases advanced by said conveyor;

i. means responsive to said size sensing means for applying said brake to hold any one of said cases differing in size from a preceding one of said cases and for operating said coder to clear said coder of all of said cases preceding said different size case;

j. means for sensing that said coder is cleared of all of said cases preceding said different size case;

k. an axially movable adjusting shaft;

1. means responsive to said clean'ng sensing means for positioning said shaft;

m. means controlled by the position of said shaft for laterally adjusting said side rails; and

11. means responsive to said adjustment of said side rails for releasing said brake to allow said different size case to be pushed onto said conveyor to advance through said coder.

2. The coder of claim 1 including a fixed rail along side said infeed means and wherein said switch means includes an arm biased for pressing each of said cases against said fixed rail and a plurality of switches arranged to sense the position of said arm for sensing the width of each of said cases.

3. The coder of claim 2 wherein said brake holds said cases against said fixed rail.

4. The coder of claim 1 wherein one of said side rails has an extension engaging said cases pushed onto said conveyor, a solenoid-actuated brake holds said side rail extension in place, and means responsive to said clearing sensing means releases said solenoid-actuated brake during said positioning of said shaft.

5. The coder of claim 1 wherein each of one of said cases held by said brake is positioned against an edge of one of said cases pushed onto said conveyor to guide said case on said conveyor in between said side rails.

6. The coder of claim 1 wherein said means for laterally adjusting said side rails includes pair of connector arms pivotally connected to said shaft and to said side rails.

7. The coder of claim 6 including a fixed rail alongside said infeed means and wherein said switch means includes an arm biased for pressing each of said cases against said fixed rail and a plurality of switches arranged to sense the position of said arm for sensing the width of each of said cases.

8. The coder of claim 7 wherein said brake holds said cases against said fixed rail.

9. The coder of claim 8 wherein one of said side rails has an extension engaging said cases pushed onto said conveyor, a solenoid-actuated brake holds said side rail extension in place, and means responsive to said clearing sensing means releases said solenoid-actuated brake during said positioning of said shaft.

10. The coder of claim 9 wherein each one of said cases held by said brake is positioned against an edge of one of said cases pushed onto said conveyor to guide said case on said conveyor in between said side rails, 

1. An automatic random case coder comprising: a. infeed means for advancing said cases into an input region of said coder, said infeed means having an output end; b. switch means for sensing the size of each of said cases advanced by said infeed means; c. a brake in the region of said output end of said infeed means for successively holding each of said cases delivered by said infeed means; d. an intermittently driven conveyor for advancing said cases through said coder; e. sensing means for sensing the initial movement of each of said cases on said conveyor; f. said brake being responsive to said movement sensing means for releasing a held one of said cases to be pushed onto said conveyor by another one of said cases following said held case and advanced by said infeed means; g. a pair of laterally adjustable side rails along opposite sides of said conveyor; h. printing devices on said side rails for printing on said cases advanced by said conveyor; i. means responsive to said size sensing means for applying said brake to hold any one of said cases differing in size from a preceding one of said cases and for operating said coder to clear said coder of all of said cases preceding said different size case; j. means for sensing that said coder is cleared of all of said cases preceding said different size case; k. an axially movable adjusting shaft; l. means responsive to said clearing sensing means for positioning said shaft; m. means controlled by the position of said shaft for laterally adjusting said side rails; and n. means responsive to said adjustment of said side rails for releasing said brake to allow said different size case to be pushed onto said conveyor to advance through said coder.
 2. The coder of claim 1 including a fixed rail alongside said infeed means and wherein said switch means includes an arm biased for pressing each of said cases against said fixed rail and a plurality of switches arranged to sense the position of said arm for sensing the width of each of said cases.
 3. The coder of claim 2 wherein said brake holds said cases against said fixed rail.
 4. The coder of claim 1 wherein one of said side rails has an extension engaging said cases pushed onto said conveyor, a solenoid-actuated brake holds said side rail extension in place, and means responsive to said clearing sensing means releases said solenoid-actuated brake during said positioning of said shaft.
 5. The coder of claim 1 wherein each of one of said cases held by said brake is positioned against an edge of one of said cases pushed onto said conveyor to guide said case on said conveyor in between said side rails.
 6. The coder of claim 1 wherein said means for laterally adjusting said side rails includes pair of connector arms pivotally connected to said shaft and to said side rails.
 7. The coder of claim 6 including a fixed rail alongside said infeed means and wherein said switch means includes an arm biased for pressing each of said cases against said fixed rail and a plurality of switches arranged to sense the position of said arm for sensing the width of each of said cases.
 8. The coder of claim 7 wherein said brake holds said cases against said fixed rail.
 9. The coder of claim 8 wherein one of said side rails has an extension engaging said cases pushed onto said conveyor, a solenoid-actuated brake holds said side rail extension in place, and means responsive to said clearing sensing means releases said solenoid-actuated brake during said positioning of said shaft.
 10. The coder of claim 9 wherein each one of said cases held by said brake is positioned against an edge of one of said cases pushed onto said conveyor to guide said case on said conveyor in between said side rails. 